Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses very much for coming in to speak with us this afternoon. To follow on from Deputy O'Reilly's questions, I would like to speak about the tri-location model. Could the witnesses explain the reason why the maternity services from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital cannot be done in tandem with the new children's hospital? Is it just the money or an ambition thing? Is there any timeline for the start of the transfer of those services from the Coombe to the St. James's Hospital site? The committee has heard presentations from people - I should not say the opposing side because we are all on the one side here - who have had different viewpoints. Everyone has stated that the health and well-being of our children is priority and especially anyone with experience in dealing with the children's hospitals in this State. I had reason to be in Temple Street with my youngest child last Friday and I am actually shocked at how bad it is. I knew it was bad but if there was a fire in Temple Street people would be throwing children out from windows, it is that simple. It is terrible. My mother-in-law told me that the decor in Crumlin hospital is the same as when my husband had his tonsils taken out 35 years ago, as it was when I was there five years ago myself. There is nobody out there who does not think that a new children's hospital is absolutely essential for the health, well-being and maintenance of the welfare of our children.

Reference was made at this morning's session to the model of care having been decided after the location. Some people have claimed that. Could the witnesses elaborate on that process as one that people could perhaps find fault with. Many people seem to have issues with capacity, future proofing, expansion and demographics. Can we grow on the St. James's Hospital site to accommodate the demographics and advances in health care? Some of the people who have been in to the committee previously spoke about actual physical barriers - I believe it was the proton scanner or some other new machines - so could the witnesses talk us through any sort of barriers that they could see to development in the future.

I may have misinterpreted this but some of the clinical directors who have supported the St James's Hospital site - and I thought it was being implied - came on board and were in the process that was aligned to the St James's site. I do not wish to twist anyone's words but perhaps they were part of the St James's Hospital ideology anyway and maybe they are not the most objective. I may be twisting the words of previous presentations to the committee but I am trying to find out if that would be true to say.